The Legendary Magicians (Etalsian Legends Book One)

Chapter Nine (Part One)

CHAPTER NINE (Part One): The Mystical Jewels

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"YOU ALWAYS, ALWAYS refuse to follow me, don't you?" Juji whispered while holding an unconscious Xandri's hand in the Ymir Infirmary.

Suddenly, in front of her eyes, two necklaces with different pendants were presented. Although she hadn't asked yet, she knew that hers was the one with the symbol of the Evolution Mountains—the lion paw. The snowflake with a water droplet at the center must be for Xandri.

"May I ask what those necklaces are for?" she inquired to clarify its purpose.

Director Dion took her free hand and placed the necklaces on her palm. Then, he answered, "These are two of the twelve Mystical Jewels of the Legendary Magicians."

Juji let go of Xandri's hand and picked up the lion paw pendant.

"How sure are you that this one is meant for me?" she asked, completely disregarding her initial thoughts on the necklace. "How sure are you I am one of the Legendary Magicians?"

He replied, "We will be sure once the power of the jewel activates upon your wearing."

That's when Juji realized, "Whatever magic is in here... will only take effect if a Legendary Magician wears it."

The director nodded. "Otherwise, nothing will occur. Also, the twelve jewels were designed by the Grand Wizard himself. There's no way he would mistake those symbols."

"All you have to do is to find the right person. You already know what the Legendary Magicians' magic are," Juji concluded.

After a brief silence, the Animals Magician added, "What are the others?"

"What?"

"This lion paw pendant is obviously for an Animals Magician like me, as it is the symbol of our village. And there's only one person existing in the entire Mystic Universe that has both the Spirit of Ice and Snow and a Water Spirit. What are the others' magic?"

Director Dion sighed. "There are two waters, one fire, one memory, one lightning, one earth, one nature, one wind, and one time."

"That's only nine," Juji noted; "plus these two in my hand, that's only eleven."

"I don't think you'd be able to accept the last one."

And she was silent. Jadore Theluji Adelar wasn't too dumb to not deduce what kind of magician the last one was.

"A Dark Magician," she declared. "There's a Dark Magician included in the Legendary Magicians."

"I'm not quite sure, but it appears so, yes."

"That's bullshit."

"Whatever you want to say, Miss Adelar."

"There's no way a Dark Magician would help Etalsians war against their home realm."

"Unless—" Anne entered the room; "—that Dark Magician was not born and raised in the Dark Dimension. It is possible that he or she would be our ally."

"So it was you who was listening, Miss Ninlil." Director Dion turned to her and smiled knowingly.

Anne took a chair, placed it next to Juji, and sat down, her gaze still on the director. "I know you know someone was listening behind the door."

She took the snowflake-water droplet jewel from Juji's palm and raised it in front of her eyes. "My guess about the Dark Legendary Magician was that he or she might be the missing heir, the only remaining Brangwen, the rightful one to the throne."

Juji stared at her friend, waiting for more elaboration. The director kept his smile all the while he was listening.

"You see; if the Dark Legendary Magician is indeed a Brangwen, that's enough reason for him or her to be our ally and fight the Death family."

"That's one way to see that," Director Dion approved.

"The other way to see this situation is: If we are allies with the rightful heir of Dark Dimension, then our realms would be at peace after defeating the Death family."

Juji stared at the remaining necklace in her hand. Without any more questions, she clasped the jewel around her neck.

Everything that happened next was too fast for the conscious mind to comprehend.

A white glow emerged from the pendant, wrapping around Juji's body. Like liquid being absorbed by a cloth, the light penetrated her skin.

"W-What's happening to her?!" Anne panicked, the chair generating a loud noise falling against the tiled floor.

Director Dion replied, "I'm afraid this is my first time witnessing this, Miss Ninlil. I have not a single explanation to give you."

Her veins slowly turned white as the light rushed inside, stopping only upon reaching her face. Finally, the entirety of her eyes glowed bright orange and the abysmal pain kicked in.

"GAAAAAAAHHH!!!!!"

"JUJI!!"

Juji's head snapped back; her voice screamed as if burning alive; her muscles cramped from the intensity of the agony. In the end, a glowing, orange orb emerged from her chest.

The bright orange light in her eyes and the white light in her veins faded as she lost consciousness. Her body collapsed on Xandri's still-unconscious one, leaving only Anne and the director to behold the event.

"That..." Anne stared at the floating orange orb. "That is her Magic Spirit, isn't it?"

Director Dion did not answer.

The orb shrunk into a bead and entered the hanging lion paw pendant. The clear diamonds turned orange, and the dreadful process concluded.

"I... I don't understand," Anne mumbled, turning her gaze away from her friend and staring instead at the remaining necklace in her hand.

Her attention turned to the director when he answered, "There was a prophecy written by a Fortune Magician in a book saying:

When a figure of seven and five coincide,
Even the strongest magic will be nonviable to divide.
As the power of the Legendary Magicians unite,
The darkness in all of the lands will elide.

"To which I believed I must do something if the twelve were to arrive here in the Magicless Region.

"I then asked for a piece of advice from the Headmaster of ESM about how I would be able to protect the magic and identity of the Legendary Magicians. He told me to seek help from the five Divine Guardians."

Anne held up a hand, wanting to say something. After the director gave a nod, she said, "You were able to do this before the bloodbath happened?"

He agreed, "Yes, I filed half a year of absence and left the university running without a director. I traveled back and forth, realm to realm. Without knowledge about opening portals, I obviously did not reach my goal in the given time. I was only able to return a year after I left."

Finally, Anne asked the most important question. "Then, Director, what do the jewels do to the Legendary Magicians?"

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